Iran implementing water projects worth $3.5b in foreign countries

Iran is implementing water projects worth $3.5 billion in foreign countries, according to Iranian Deputy Energy Minister Alireza Daemi.
The value of the water projects in foreign countries has risen by 282 percent since the start of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's administration in 2005, the Mehr News Agency quoted Daemi as saying on Sunday.

Some other projects, which would be worth about $2.69 billion, are being negotiated and will most likely be implemented, he added.

In April, Esmaeil Mahsouli, another Iranian deputy energy minister, said that Iran has invested $1.453 billion to complete 213 projects in the power sector in other countries. Some 45 Iranian companies have launched water and power projects in 40 countries, mainly in Central Asia, the Middle East, Latin America, and Africa.

Iran has attained self-sufficiency in the production of equipment for its power industry. In recent years, the Islamic Republic has signed technical and engineering contracts in the energy sector with several Asian and African countries.

Iran plans to export $4.5 billion worth of technical and engineering services in the current Iranian calendar year, which began on March 21.